realty: Deciding What Type of Home to Buy
- 03/16/11 12:47 AM
So you've decided it's time to become a homeowner...Great decision! You'll be making an investment in your future - and building equity in a place all your own - instead of enriching your landlord.One of the most important decisions you'll make as you proceed in the homebuying process is the type of home you want to live in. A single-family home? A townhome or condo? A duplex or triplex?And what type of floor plan do you prefer? A single-family ranch? A multistory home or a tri-level? There are many factors you should consider in making these decisions, including your lifestyle, family (2 comments)

realty: RE/MAX Home Team Contest Launched
- 03/11/11 06:23 AM
RE/MAX and the Western Hockey League have teamed up to bring fans an opportunity to win $17,500 in home improvement packages AND tickets to future WHL home games. Enter to win the grand prize of $10,000 in home improvement cash & goods at: http://www.whlremaxhometeam.ca/; contest rules and regulations available online. Winning tickets is easy - just follow these steps: Step 1: Follow the WHL on Twitter @TheWHL and answer the weekly question. The answer must include the WHL team closest to your home town and the code "#RE/MAXWIN". Step 2: Follow the WHL on Facebook and enter to win under the RE/MAX Contest (0 comments)

realty: Investors: An Agent’s Help Can Improve Your Return
- 03/08/11 03:31 AM
A skilled, knowledgeable, experienced real estate agent or real estate team is one of the best assets a real estate investor can have.Whether you're diving into the real estate investment pool for the first time, or you're an experienced investor, a trained real estate agent can perform many functions more efficiently and effectively than you yourself can. And by the way, you don't have to be wealthy to invest in real estate; nearly half of investors in 2009 earned $75,000 annually or less.The value of an agent goes far beyond showing properties.Realtors are up with current trends. We are going to classes, taking (0 comments)

realty: To Handle Lowball Offer, Minimize Emotion
- 03/07/11 04:20 AM
To Handle Lowball Offer, Minimize Emotion It's a common scenario in today's real estate market: Sellers have their eyes on getting a certain amount for their home. Buyers make a lowball offer that insults and offends the sellers and they refuse to even consider it. No sale. How do you, as a seller, turn such a situation around in your favor to achieve a successful sale closer to your asking price? Your motivation plays a major role in your response. If you want to sell a home quickly and a buyer is offering less but can close quickly, it's worth considering. When (2 comments)

realty: Six Tips to Getting the Mortgage You Want
- 03/04/11 05:09 AM
Now is the best time to purchase a home! Interest rates are at a historic low, and housing prices in many markets have adjusted to levels that have not been seen in years. But before you start your property search or drive around neighborhoods looking at every house with a "For Sale" sign in the yard, you'll need some information. In particular, you'll need to know how much house you can afford and get preapproved for a home mortgage. There are six things you can do right now to help you enter the preapproval process: Get AdviceSeek out a trusted real (0 comments)

realty: 7 Questions You Can Ask to Get Real FEEDBACK
- 03/02/11 04:05 AM
7 Questions You Can Ask to Get Real FEEDBACK 1. What Is Your Overall Impression of The Home? Buyers will tell you the truth but "pepper" it with compliments they think you want to hear so as no to offend anyone. They might use "weak" adjectives such as "It's nice" or "I liked it" - You must probe deeper! Whatever the feedback is it is important to not become combative or argue with the buyer. Simply thank them for their input & for viewing the home. 2. How Do You Compare This home With Others You Are Considering? This will make the buyer (4 comments)

realty: ‘Wild Card’ Props up Canadian Housing Markets says RE/MAX
- 02/09/11 02:04 AM
Tighter inventory levels helped to make the last decade one of the healthiest periods on record for Canadian real estate, insulating markets in major centres from the peaks and valleys characteristic of past decades, according to a report released today by RE/MAX. The across the country from January 2000 to December 2010. The report found strong seller's/balanced conditions prevailed for much of the time frame, prompting significant gains in housing values. The lone exception was when the market dipped into buyer's territory during the latter half of 2008 and early 2009. However, fewer listings served to offset diminished demand and provided (0 comments)

realty: CREB Media Release - Calgary Home Sales Rise Year-Over-Year
- 02/07/11 03:27 AM
Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) Media Release - JANUARY 2011 CALGARY HOME SALES RISE YEAR-OVER-YEAR Calgary - Single family home sales in the City of Calgary edged upwards month-over-month and showed the first year-over-year increase since April 2010, according to figures released today by CREB® (Calgary Real Estate Board). The number of single family home sales in the month of January 2011 were 787, compared with December 2010, when sales were 734 - an increase of about 7 per cent. The number of condominium sales for the month of January 2011 was 297. This was down from the 320 condominium transactions (0 comments)

realty: Price Your Own Home Instantly
- 01/31/11 03:06 AM
A new, useful feature has been added to SoldByJ.com - Price Your Own Home Instantly! Now you can price your own home or any investment you are considering online in seconds! You'll find our online Property Evaluation Software as easy to use as 1-2-3. It's instant and confidential. Compare your home's value with your neighbours', view competing statistics. It's a fun, informative, and exciting way to stay on top of the real estate market! Plus you can request a free customized monthly neighborhood market trends report that shows you both the sales and active listings in your neighborhood and how they (1 comments)

realty: Calgary's Housing Market is on its Way to Recovery
- 01/23/11 02:21 AM
Calgary's housing market is on its way to recovery, the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) said Tuesday, as housing inventory levels begin to stabilize later this year. The Calgary Real Estate Board expects sellers will likely see an increase in the value of homes toward the second half of 2011. (CBC News) The board said in its 2011 forecast that low interest rates, unprecedented affordability and a large selection of inventory are expected to come together sparking a return to a more balanced and sustainable housing market. "This could be great news for those homebuyers who have been putting off purchasing in (0 comments)

realty: RE/MAX Space Planner Tool - Use it!
- 01/09/11 05:54 AM
Become your own interior designer with the help of the RE/MAX Space Planner tool at www.remax-western.ca/remax-space-planner. Thanks to this easy-to-use software, you can choose furniture to fit the exact measurements of the rooms in your home. Experiment with different combinations, swap things around and try different styles until you're satisfied with the result. You can view and print out the best options, with all the measurements, just like an architect. Once you're happy with your plan, save it for viewing at a later time, perhaps on site while viewing your new dream home.

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realty: Home Staging & Other Home Improvements Tips from Real Estate & Home Staging Experts
- 01/07/11 09:17 AM
What's the secret to getting your home sold in today's real estate market? With more homes on the real estate market in Calgary and surrounding areas, you need to make yours stand out. Properly prepared homes will sell quicker and for a better price. When you list your home with The Jay Magnussen Real Estate Team, we will give you a complimentary home staging report, tips on how to stage your home to sell and direct feedback from buyers about your home. We also have access to the complete RE/MAX "Fit to Sell" homeowner package, giving you the secrets on how to stage your home so (3 comments)

realty: Strategically Marketing Your Home
- 01/03/11 06:27 AM
A question we often get asked, and something we make a point of explaining to all of our clients and customers is how and where we will be marketing their home when we list it for sale. Upon listing, our team runs through a checklist of (kind of like a cheat sheet) so we don't leave anything out. The first place is our local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) which is a sharing of comprehensive home information among real estate professionals whereby we exchange and access information about past and current listings. Some of the information available to realtors, such as homes currently (0 comments)

realty: It's Business, Not Personal
- 12/13/10 06:43 AM
Often when it comes time to buy or sell a real estate, individuals or couples will turn to their brother's friend, or their friend's neice - why? Well because he or she is a licensed realtor... not seeing the bigger picture - the purchase or sale of property is often the largest and most important transaction you will ever make. Too often people entrust this important event to a friend of a friend or a family member for fear of offending someone or simply not being able to say no. A close friend of mine worked with a realtor for over 2 years looking for (2 comments)

realty: First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit - Canada
- 12/07/10 01:28 AM
Although the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit was introduced by the Federal Government in January of 2009, it is still available if you purchased a home in 2010 and qualified as a first time home buyers. If you, or someone you know, purchased a home in 2009 or 2010 as a first time home buyer, then you could qualify for this tax credit. If the purchase occurred in 2009 and no claim was made for the Home Buyer Tax Credit, then it is still possible to make a claim by submitting a Re-Assessment of your Personal Income Tax Return to (0 comments)

realty: Economic Update - November 2010
- 11/30/10 05:52 AM
Here's a recent update to what to expect regarding interest rate movements relative to prime. Please remember that the Bank of Canada manages prime, while investors manage the fixed rate mortgage as it's tied to the bond market. You may see some of the fixed rates move around a bit as investors price in the increased risk due to the problems in Europe. Ireland unveiled the harshest budget measures in its history Wednesday, a four-year plan to claw back euro15 billion (US$20 billion) using spending cuts and extra taxes. Some 24,000 state employees could lose their jobs and the sales tax (1 comments)

realty: 5 Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage FASTER!!
- 11/29/10 02:52 AM
Five Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster For most of us, paying off a mortgage as quickly as possible is a priority. Here are some ways to pay down extra principal early on, to shorten the life of the mortgage and the interest you'll pay over the years. 1. Round your payments up - this little extra adds up over time. 2. Pay a lump sum whenever possible. 3. Increase payments when you get a raise. 4. Make bi-weekly payments - you'll end up paying more toward the principal each year. 5. Keep payments the same when mortgage rates have fallen.

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realty: 13 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Realtor / Real Estate Team
- 11/03/10 02:43 AM
1. How much experience does the Realtor / Real Estate Team have? This is important in marketing, network & negotiating on your behalf. Experience is often the difference when making or breaking a sale as well as keeping a deal together. 2. What is the Realtor's / Real Estate Team's commitment to advertising your home? Consistency is everything in marketing your home. Where will my home be advertised & how? 3. Does a Realtor / Real Estate Team have a marketing plan? Your Realtor / Real Estate Team should have a comprehensive marketing plan that inludes print, internet and other forms of media - your Realtor should (1 comments)

realty: Preparing Your Home For Sale
- 08/06/10 06:12 AM
Basement, Attic, Garage Clean out attic, basement and garage and dispose of everything that you are not going to move. Package everything that you won't need until you're settled in your new home. Make sure there is ample lighting in the basement stairway. If the basement is dark and gloomy, paint ceilings and walls a light colour. If undeveloped, paint the floor. Repair cracks in basement floors and walls with a ready mixed grout (concrete). Wiping clean the furnace and hot water tank will make them appear newer and well maintained. Wash down the garage floor and clean any oil stains (0 comments)

realty: Sustainable Okotoks
- 12/29/08 03:49 AM
Sustainable Okotoks... is this a mere dream or something we can attain? Perhaps once a decade a decision this important comes along; one that will impact future generations and the future of our town. The big question: Does the Town of Okotoks allow unlimited development, population expansion and growth by removing the current population cap, or do they continue to abide by the cap of 30,000 residents? Okotoks Town Council has decided to move forward and will seek out a mandate from the community by conducting an extensive public consultation program exploring the pros and cons of each option, starting with (0 comments)

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